Bridger seeks leave to appeal sentence for April Jones murder

Updated / Dec. 17, 2013 00:21

Mark Bridger (right) snatched five-year-old April Jones near her home last year

Mark Bridger, who was jailed for killing five-year-old April Jones in Wales, has lodged an application for permission to appeal against his whole-life term sentence, Britain’s Judicial Office has said.

The application has been referred to the full court with a hearing due in the new year.

April's parents, Coral and Paul Jones, told The Sun newspaper that police officers warned them of an initial hearing at the Court of Appeal next month, which the couple plan to attend.

Bridger, a father of six, snatched April near her home in Machynlleth, Wales, on 1 October last year.

The five-year-old's body has never been found.

Mrs Jones said her family continue to be "tortured" by Bridger, who was jailed for life in May after being found guilty of the girl's murder.

She told the newspaper: "He's in prison where he belongs and he should stay there. He's just torturing my family with these legal battles.

"It's like he's taunting us, like he wants to show he's got the upper hand."

She said that Bridger had already tried to claim compensation following an attack by a fellow inmate while at the top security Wakefield Prison in Yorkshire earlier this year.

RTÉ.ie is the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland's National Public Service Broadcaster.
RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. Images courtesy of Inpho.ie and Getty Images